Villeneuve qualifies 27th for Indy 500

Jacques Villeneuve will have his work cut out for him if he wants to claim a historic victory at the Indy 500 on his return to the brickyard after qualifying down in 27th.

1997 world champion Villeneuve won the iconic race on his last outing in 1995, becoming the first Canadian to do so in the process, and this year returns with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. With a 19-year gap between his win and his return, he is aiming to break the record of 17 years held by Al Unser Jr for the length of time between victories.

Other F1 alumni taking part in the event includes 2000 Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya, who qualified 10th, as well as Justin Wilson (14th), Sebastian Bourdais (17th) and Takuma Sato (23rd). Last year's winner Tony Kanaan will start alongside Bourdais in 16th.

American driver Ed Carpenter took pole for the second year on the trot, and will line up alongside James Hinchcliffe and Will Power for the race, which takes place on May 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.